Example builds
Complete systems to start from. Clone one and swap parts - the checks rerun live.
Budget cabin 12V starter
Weekend cabin basics: lights, fridge, phone charging, and a 2000W inverter for small appliances. Proven budget parts, all from Renogy and Rich Solar.
- 4x Rich Solar MEGA 200 200W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Renogy Rover 60A
- 2x Renogy Core Mini 12V 100Ah
- Renogy 2000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter (RNG-INVT-2000-12V-P2)
Mid-size ranch 48V (EG4 server rack)
The workhorse setup the DIY community actually buys in 2026: an EG4 6000XP all-in-one, two LifePower4 rack batteries, and eight 410W panels. Split-phase 120/240V for a well pump.
- 8x Canadian Solar HiKu6 CS6R-410MS 410W Mono PERC
- 2x EG4 LifePower4 V2 48V 100Ah
- EG4 6000XP
Premium Victron 48V homestead
Blue-box build: MultiPlus-II 48/5000, SmartSolar 250/100, three Pylontech US5000 racks, and a 4.4kW array of 550W panels. Closed-loop comms and room to grow.
- 8x Canadian Solar HiKu6 CS6W-550MS 550W Mono PERC
- Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 250/100-Tr VE.Can
- 3x Pylontech US5000 48V 100Ah
- Victron Energy MultiPlus-II 48/5000/70-95 120V
Weekender van 400W 12V
A compact 12V system for occasional van trips - two 200W panels, a 230Ah LiFePO4 battery, and a 1000W inverter run lights, devices, and a fridge for long weekends without full-time-build complexity or cost.
- 2x Rich Solar MEGA 200 200W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100/30
- LiTime 12V 230Ah Plus LiFePO4
- Renogy 1000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter (RNG-INVT-1000-12V-P2)
Full-time vanlife 800W 24V
A daily-driver system for living in a van: 800W of roof solar, 200Ah at 24V, and a 3000VA Victron inverter/charger. 24V keeps current and wire size manageable at this load.
- 4x Rich Solar MEGA 200 200W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100/50
- 2x LiTime 24V 100Ah LiFePO4
- Victron Energy MultiPlus-II 24/3000/70-50 120V
Truck camper 400W 12V
A space- and weight-conscious 12V build for slide-in campers: 400W of panels, a marine-grade 206Ah battery, and a compact 1200VA Victron inverter, all sized around a truck payload budget.
- 2x Rich Solar MEGA 200 200W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100/30
- SOK SK12V206P 12V 206Ah Marine
- Victron Energy Phoenix Inverter 12/1200 120V VE.Direct (NEMA 5-15R)
Small cabin 800W 24V
A weekend-cabin 24V system: four 200W panels, a 200Ah rack battery, and a 3000VA inverter/charger cover lights, a fridge, and small appliances at a seasonal property.
- 4x Newpowa 200W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel (NPA200S-12J, 10BB)
- EPEver Tracer 6415AN 60A MPPT
- EG4 LifePower4 V2 24V 200Ah
- Victron Energy MultiPlus-II 24/3000/70-50 120V
Off-grid tiny house 48V
Residential-style power in a small footprint: a 5000W 48V all-in-one, 200Ah of rack batteries, and six 440W panels run a tiny house's fridge, electronics, and daily loads.
- 6x Jinko Solar Tiger Neo JKM440N-54HL4R-B 440W N-type TOPCon (All Black)
- SRNE HF4850U80-H
- 2x LiTime 48V 100Ah ComFlex Server Rack
RV 30A lithium upgrade 12V
Replace an RV lead-acid bank without changing its 12V architecture: a 330Ah Victron Smart lithium, a MultiPlus-II inverter/charger for shore power, and 600W of roof solar.
- 3x Renogy 200W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel (RSP200D)
- Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100/50
- Victron Lithium Battery Smart 12.8V 330Ah
- Victron Energy MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-50 2x120V
Backup blackout kit 24V
A grid-down essentials kit: a 3000W 24V all-in-one with built-in MPPT, two 100Ah batteries, and two 320W panels keep the fridge, lights, and phones running through an outage.
- 2x Renogy 320W Monocrystalline Solar Panel (RSP320D)
- Growatt SPF 3000TL LVM-24P
- 2x LiTime 24V 100Ah LiFePO4
Well pump and outbuilding 24V
Power a well pump and outbuilding without trenching grid power: four used 250W panels on a ground mount, a 60A MPPT, a 200Ah battery, and a 4000W inverter for motor-start surge.
- 4x Generic (used, via Santan Solar) Used 250W 60-cell poly (Trina TSM-250PA05 class, representative)
- EPEver Tracer 6415AN 60A MPPT
- EG4 LifePower4 V2 24V 200Ah
- Giandel PS-4000QAR 4000W 24V Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Homestead expansion 4400W 48V
Scaling up a 48V homestead: an EG4 FlexBOSS18 all-in-one, 560Ah of wall-mount batteries, and eight 550W panels support growing loads with room for a second array later.
- 8x Canadian Solar HiKu6 CS6W-550MS 550W Mono PERC
- EG4 FlexBOSS18
- 2x EG4 WallMount Indoor 48V 280Ah